MMA fighter Cédric Doumbé used his post-fight victory speech to accuse his former coach Fernand Lopez of being involved in a domestic violence incident, sparking controversy and discussion about the topic.
Cédric Doumbé made headlines last weekend not only for his nine-second knockout of Jordan Zébo, but also for his post-fight comments about his former coach, Fernand Lopez. After his debut match in PFL, Doumbé made allegations about Lopez, accusing him of being involved in a domestic violence situation with his ex-wife. As a vocal supporter of organizations that fight against domestic violence in France, Doumbé felt compelled to express his disdain for Lopez and reveal the reason for their falling out.
Doumbé explained his reasons for keeping the issue private for so long, citing his desire to protect the victim, who happens to be his nutritionist. He mentioned that he left Lopez’s gym because he could not bear to work in an environment where everyone knew about the domestic violence incident but chose to do nothing. Doumbé’s disclosure was not premeditated and he says it was driven by emotions and his desire to protect the woman involved from further distress.
Lopez responded to Doumbé’s allegations in an interview with Le Parisien. He admitted to being sentenced to four months in prison in 2018 for domestic violence. The owner of MMA Factory in Paris, Lopez confessed to slapping his then-partner, but also claimed she was physically abusive towards him and his family. However, he referred to his own behavior as “inexcusable”.
The rift between Doumbé and Lopez has widened, with diverging opinions over Doumbé bringing their private matter to light. According to Doumbé, the woman involved was grateful to him for bringing the issue into the public domain, but Lopez believes his ex-partner wanted to keep the issue private. Despite the potential negative fallout, Doumbé insists he doesn’t regret his actions. The tension between the two was palpable during the PFL Europe event in Paris, although they did not publicly confront each other. Doumbé is keen not to prolong the feud, despite the deep personal issues involved.